1970s Italian Black Vintage Leather Handbag with Bamboo Hardware MRS Couture

Gorgeous 1970s smooth Black leather handbag with curved bamboo handle and twist / turn lock. The handbag features a rectangular structured frame with curved flap and beveled edges. The handles sit on a gold – tone fasten, as does the turn lock. Interior features zippered pocket. Marked “Siso Select Made in Italy”.

The bamboo handle came to vogue in the late 1940s, when Italian craftsmen, limited in resourced due to post-war scarcity and rationing, got inventive! One of the few items available for use was bamboo imported from Japan; craftsmen heated up the bamboo, bending and molding them to form handles, locks, and frames. Bamboo detail bags were (and still are!) fabricated by various Italian artisans and fashion houses including Gucci.